13 December 2015

Walking With Pride!

2nd July, 2009 was that historic day when the Delhi High Court passed a much-awaited verdict decriminalising consentious homosexual acts.

Unfortunately, on the 12th of December, 2013, the Supreme Court of India disappointed many by ruling out the verdict. "Amending or repealing section 377 should be a matter left to the parliament, and not the judiciary! "

THE MOVEMENT FOR EQUAL RIGHTS FOR PEOPLE WITH DIVERSE GENDER, GENDER EXPRESSIONS AND SEXUAL IDENTITIES HAS SEEN SOME DRASTIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE PAST FEW YEARS. THE 14TH KOLKATA RAINBOW PRIDE WALK, THE OLDEST IN INDIA, UNRAVELED WITH A HUGE RESPONSE FROM PEOPLE BARRING THEIR SEXUAL ORIENTATION, RELIGION, AGE AND OFCOURSE SEX.

Activists from the march

The walk started at around 2;30 pm from Deshbandhu Park, Shyambazar and ended at the Ramlila Maidan, Moulali. It was a long, untiring walk ornamented with the roaring sloganeering of the enthusiasts, the vehement disposition of inequality and orthodox concepts, still lurking in our society. The event was successful, a peaceful one and how can I forget, COLOURFUL!

Love is what unites us

The walks' motive was to obliterate the patriarchal rules on inequality. To strengthen the bonds of humanity, to spread the message of love and solidarity. This is a walk for every scared individual out there to come out, shed off their fears and treasure the fact that being "DIFFERENT" is not a crime. Who are we to decide who is going to love whom? Is love mathematics? X + Y equals Z? Quoting one of my favourite movies, Love is something which transcends every other dimension! Who gave the society the batton to determine "What's normal and what is not?", The 14th pride walk is certainly the perfect answer to that section of society who still are neck deep in the illusions of such orthodoxy.

A veteran professor joining the walk

A witty remark from an enthusiast

One for the potterheads

We had the privilege of catching up with a short conversation with the KRPF organizers, Jiah and Arunavo !

FROM THE LEFT, JIA AND ARUNAVO

What do you think about the response?

ARUNAVO - Oh it's brilliant, the teeming crowd is overwhelming and it does send out a strong message!

When compared to Bangalore's recent pride march, where do you think we stand?

Jia - Comparisons are tedious affairs and we will prefer not to bring down that into the same initiative, Bangalore's march was indeed a benchmark, but from what we are witnessing Kolkata is no less!

How far has been the impact of these marches? How far has it been able to change the outlook of the Great Indian Middle Class?

Jia - Needless to say, that i am very happy with the way our marches across India are helping in revolutionizing the outlook. When you start a great journey, things won't always work the way you want it to; there will be hurdles, despair, distraction and even oppression on several occasions! So did we, things didnt turn out the way we expected them to be! But whatever support we have garnished, it's overwhelming and quite satisfactory! And the recent turn of events have instilled in us the faith that yes our initiative isn't going beserk and we WILL achieve our mission in the end!

THANK YOU JIA AND ARUNAVO, THANKS TO ALL THE OTHER CADETS OF KRPF, THANKS FOR BEING THE CHANGE !